Ask anyone who lives here what the weather is like and they will start with the wind. NIWA's long-term records show gusts above 63 km/h at Wellington Airport on around 166 days in an average year, and it is the wind, more than the cold, that pulls warmth out of a house. A heat pump in Karori has to keep up while a southerly drives rain at the windows.
The houses add their own twist. Wellington City Council points out that many homes in the city were built before insulation was common and get little sun, and you see that in the timber villas packed onto the slopes of Aro Valley, Mount Victoria and Brooklyn. Add steep sections with nowhere flat for an outdoor unit, inner-city apartments and salty south coast homes, and good advice matters as much as the unit.
When your Wellington home is asking for better heating
Frost is rare in most of the city, so the warning signs here are damp and draughts rather than ice on the lawn. Recognise a couple of these? Get someone round before winter.
- The south-facing bedrooms smell musty, the windows run with condensation every morning, and you wipe black spots off the ceiling more than once a winter. A heat pump on dry mode can help, as our guide on whether heat pumps dehumidify explains.
- The lounge warms up on a still day but loses the battle as soon as a northerly or southerly gets going.
- You live near Ōwhiro Bay, Lyall Bay or Island Bay and the outdoor unit's casing or fins have started to rust or pit from salt spray.
- Your villa still relies on a single plug-in heater or an old gas fire, and the hallway and back rooms never warm up at all.
- You've bought an apartment and the existing unit is noisy, weak or older than the building's last repaint. Our guide to replacing a heat pump covers what changes when you swap one out.
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1. SubZero Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
Wainuiomata, Wellington
Four big brands, three ventilation systems and a 24/7 breakdown line
From Wood Street in Wainuiomata, SubZero Refrigeration & Air Conditioning takes residential and commercial work right across the Greater Wellington region. It is a refrigeration and air conditioning business first, so heat pumps sit alongside commercial refrigeration rather than being an electrician's sideline. Licensed technicians handle repairs and routine maintenance checks, and a 24/7 breakdown service is there for the times a system gives out at the worst moment.
For homes, the range covers highwall, ducted and floor console units from Daikin, Panasonic, Hitachi and Mitsubishi Electric, with Wi-Fi control available on some models. The team designs, installs and maintains ducted systems for houses and business premises. Ventilation is a proper part of the offer too, with Mitsubishi Electric Lossnay, Daikin VAM and SmartVent systems. Consultations are free, so you can talk through options before committing.
Why they made the list
Comparing four major brands in one visit is useful, and so is getting ventilation on the same quote. Customers single out heat pump installs, promptness, tidy work and pleasant staff, and a couple mention ducted repairs. The round-the-clock breakdown line is reassuring in a city where winter storms can knock things about.
109 Wood Street, Wainuiomata, Wellington 5014
SubZero Refrigeration & Air Conditioning listing See SubZero Refrigeration & Air Conditioning's website
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2. Silver Fern Electrical
Khandallah, Wellington
Khandallah electricians with a soft spot for Daikin and Fujitsu
Silver Fern Electrical works from Baroda Street in Khandallah and calls itself a local Wellington company, with more than 50 years of combined experience across the team. Its licensed electricians split their time between heat pumps, solar power, SmartVent ventilation and general home electrical work, from switchboard upgrades and LED lighting to EV chargers.
The heat pump side covers wall-mounted units, floor consoles, ducted and multi-room systems, all installed and serviced in-house. Daikin and Fujitsu are its specialist brands, though it fits all the major ones. As certified SmartVent installers, the team can add positive pressure or balanced ventilation to deal with moisture. Quotes are upfront, finance is available through Q Card, and full warranty coverage is part of every install.
Why they made the list
Electricians who also know ventilation make sense for the northern suburbs, where plenty of houses need a switchboard sorted before a bigger heat pump goes in. Feedback mentions heat pump and ducted installs, rewiring, a responsive team and polite sparkies, and every rating so far is five stars. The SmartVent certification is a genuine bonus in damp homes.
37 Baroda Street, Khandallah, Wellington 6035
Silver Fern Electrical listing See Silver Fern Electrical's website
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3. Lite Energy
Kaiwharawhara, Wellington
Electrical, HVAC and solar under one roof in Kaiwharawhara
Sustainability runs through everything Lite Energy does. The Kaiwharawhara Road business groups its work into three areas, electrical, HVAC and solar, and its stated aim is to help people toward a more sustainable future. Licensed electricians carry out the electrical side, which takes in rewires, lighting, switchboard upgrades, new builds and renovations for homes and commercial properties.
Its HVAC team installs and services heating, air conditioning and ventilation, from ducted heat pumps down to rangehoods and bathroom fans. Hot water heat pumps, radiant heating and underfloor heating feature as well, and existing heat pumps can be booked in for servicing. One project in Petone brought solar, a ducted heat pump, a hot water heat pump and a gas conversion together in a single job. Consultations and quotes are free.
Why they made the list
If you're thinking about moving the whole house off gas, it helps to have one team that can plan the heating, hot water and solar together. People mention a professional team, quick work and detailed quotes, and heat pump repairs come up more than once, alongside ducted installs and switchboard upgrades. The range suits ambitious renovations.
62 Kaiwharawhara Road, Kaiwharawhara, Wellington 6035
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4. Wellington Home Heat Pumps
Wellington Wide
An installer that services only what it fits, from the city to Kāpiti
Wellington Home Heat Pumps installs across the city suburbs, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and the Kāpiti Coast, and it fits every major brand, including Hitachi, Panasonic, Fujitsu, Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric. It has a deliberate policy of servicing and repairing only the heat pumps it installed, so the same company is responsible for the install, the warranty and the upkeep. Every unit comes with the manufacturer's warranty.
Sizing is built around the local housing. The team measures each room, checks the glazing and insulation, and allows for southerly exposure and single-glazed windows when choosing a unit. A registered electrician carries out and certifies the hard-wiring, and someone holding an approved filler licence handles the refrigerant work. Before quoting, it helps eligible homeowners check for the Warmer Kiwi Homes grant, and quotes are free with a fixed price and no obligation.
Why they made the list
With no customer reviews on record, the reasons here come from how it works. Allowing for southerly exposure and single glazing matters in Wellington's older homes, both the electrical and refrigerant work are done by qualified people, and a single point of contact for the install and every service after it keeps things simple.
Serves Wellington
Wellington Home Heat Pumps listing See Wellington Home Heat Pumps's website
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5. Capital & Coast HVAC
Churton Park, Wellington
A young family team in Churton Park, accredited by Panasonic
Capital & Coast HVAC is a New Zealand owned, family operated business based on Mallard Grove in Churton Park, serving the wider Wellington region. It describes itself as a young, committed team, and its work spans homes through to small and medium commercial jobs. Licensed and insured HVAC technicians do the work, there are no hidden costs, and senior citizens get a discount.
As an accredited Panasonic Air Conditioning service and installation company, it can fit anything from a wall-mounted unit in one bedroom to a full ducted system for the whole home. Its service technicians carry out repairs on site and set up routine preventive maintenance for heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment of various makes, from single-room units up to medium-sized central plant.
Why they made the list
Communication is what customers bring up most, along with tidiness, workmanship, punctuality and quick installs, and every review so far gives five stars. The senior discount is a practical touch, and accredited Panasonic status means warranty work can be handled locally. It suits the newer northern suburbs well.
6 Mallard Grove, Churton Park, Wellington 6037
Capital & Coast HVAC listing See Capital & Coast HVAC's website
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6. Frost Industries
Trentham, Wellington
Fault-finding specialists authorised for four major brands
Tracking down why a heat pump has stopped working properly is where Frost Industries says it does its best work. The business is a heating company based on Nicolaus Street in Trentham, and its team combines nationally trained refrigeration technicians with electricians, with over a quarter of a century in the trade across the team. Having both trades on the team means the refrigerant side and the electrical side of a fault can be checked in the same visit.
Its technicians are factory trained and authorised to install and service Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric, Hitachi and Daikin units, so the work is backed by those manufacturers. The team has fitted hundreds of heat pumps over the years. Alongside new installs it offers servicing and repairs, which makes it a practical call when an existing unit is throwing up errors, struggling to heat, or simply due for a check before winter.
Why they made the list
Repairs are the stand-out reason to call. Authorisation from four big brands means a warranty problem can be handled properly, and a refrigeration and electrical team can get to the root of a fault rather than guessing. Feedback points to clean, careful installs, and most give five stars, though the review count is small so far.
8 Nicolaus Street, Trentham, Wellington 5018
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7. Go With The Flow 2026 Ltd
Wellington Wide
A Tawa plumbing firm for hot water heat pumps and much more besides
Since 2001, Go With The Flow 2026 Ltd has handled plumbing, gasfitting and drainage across the wider Wellington region, from Main Road in Tawa. Its service area takes in the city, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua and the Kāpiti Coast. Beyond everyday plumbing it runs SkyVac gutter cleaning, spouting, roofing and renovation work, and it offers emergency plumbing and blocked drain call-outs.
Its heat pump work is on the water side. It supplies and installs heat pump water heaters alongside standard hot water cylinders, gas hot water heaters and central heating, and repairs cylinders as well. As an approved WINZ provider, it can prepare quotes for a hot water cylinder repair or replacement for people who need one through Work and Income. Free quotes can be requested online or by phone.
Why they made the list
When an old cylinder fails, this is a sensible call if you want to weigh a hot water heat pump against a like-for-like replacement. Customers often mention cylinder replacements, reasonable costs, polite plumbers and the before and after photos it sends, and gutter work comes up a lot too. The WINZ approval helps households on a tight budget.
178 Main Road, Tawa, Wellington 5028, New Zealand
Go With The Flow 2026 Ltd listing See Go With The Flow 2026 Ltd's website
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8. Jason Brown Plumbing and Gas
Petone, Wellington
The 2025 New Zealand Master Plumber of the Year, working from Petone
In 2025, Jason Brown Plumbing and Gas was named New Zealand Master Plumber of the Year. The business works from Victoria Street in Petone and serves Lower Hutt and the wider Wellington region with a team of plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers. Full-time office staff send progress updates, which helps on bigger jobs such as kitchen and bathroom renovations.
Hot water is a big part of the workload. It installs hot water heat pump systems as well as electric and gas hot water, repairs cylinders, and fits and services gas central heating and gas appliances. Work is backed by the Master Plumbers Guarantee and its own two-year Done Right First Time Guarantee.
Why they made the list
Two guarantees and a national award give you confidence before you hand over a hot water project. Quick response is far and away the most praised quality, followed by tidiness, clear communication and knowledgeable quotes. It is a strong choice if you want the cylinder, the pipework and the gas side handled by one firm.
86 Victoria Street, Petone, Wellington 5012
Jason Brown Plumbing and Gas listing See Jason Brown Plumbing and Gas's website
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9. Wasabi Group
Tawa, Wellington
Tawa heating specialists since 2007, with every indoor unit type on offer
Family owned and based in Tawa, Wasabi Group has looked after homes and businesses across Wellington, the Kāpiti Coast and the Wairarapa since 2007. It is the parent company of Wasabi Air for heat pumps, Wasabi Ice for commercial HVAC and Wasabi Solar. Commercial work covers offices, shops, hospitals and schools, and the group also does electrical work from switchboards to EV chargers.
At home, it installs floor consoles, ceiling cassettes, high wall units, multi-room systems that share a single outdoor unit, and ducted setups, plus hot water heat pumps and ventilation. Before recommending anything, the team looks at insulation, window placement, sun exposure, ceiling height and how you use the room. Servicing includes Hydroclean deep cleans, repairs are handled in-house, finance runs through Gem and Q Card, and quotes are free.
Why they made the list
Close to 20 years of local jobs and every system type on the books mean you get a recommendation rather than whatever happens to be in stock. People mention careful clean-up, friendly technicians, an informative salesperson and help setting up Wi-Fi control, and a couple came to it with condensation problems. The Hydroclean service suits units that have started to smell.
20 William Earp Place, Tawa, Wellington 5028
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10. Sustainability Trust
Te Aro, Wellington
A Te Aro social enterprise that warms the whole house, not just one room
For more than 20 years, Sustainability Trust has worked on warmer, more energy efficient homes in the Wellington region, and all of its profits go back into community programmes. It also runs the Wellington Curtain Bank, the Te Aro and Otaihanga Zero Waste centres and Toast Electric, an ethical electricity service. In-person visits go through the Te Aro Zero Waste Centre next door, Wednesday to Saturday.
Its installation work covers heat pumps, including multi-room and ducted setups, hot water heat pumps, central heating, ceiling and underfloor insulation, ground vapour barriers, ventilation, LED lighting and EV chargers. As a registered Warmer Kiwi Homes provider, it books a free assessment for eligible households and sorts out the funding paperwork. The team also sizes and positions each heat pump to suit the room.
Why they made the list
When the real problem is a cold, damp house, getting insulation, ventilation and heating from one organisation avoids fixing the wrong thing first. Heat pump installs are mentioned more than anything else, followed by a smooth process, insulation work, friendly installers and useful energy advice. It is especially worth a call if you may qualify for a grant.
2 Forresters Lane, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
Sustainability Trust listing See Sustainability Trust's website
Getting the right installer for a Wellington house
Ask how they'll deal with the wind. On an exposed ridge in Northland or Hataitai, the outdoor unit should be sheltered from the strongest gusts and firmly secured, whether on a sloping section or a wall bracket. A unit facing straight into a southerly works harder than one tucked round a corner.
Make sure the sizing allows for the house you actually have. A south-facing lounge with single glazing needs more capacity than a sunny room of the same size, so ask which factors went into the number. Our guide to sizing a heat pump helps you check the maths.
For a villa with rooms off a central hallway, ask about a multi-room system or ducting through the ceiling space, rather than one big unit in the lounge. In an apartment, check what the body corporate allows on balconies and walls first, and ask about quieter models. Our page on heat pump noise explains what to look for.
If damp is the main complaint, get ventilation or insulation priced too. A heat pump dries the air while it runs, but it can't stop moisture rising from under the floor.
Finally, ask who services the unit afterwards. Seaside homes especially benefit from regular checks, and our servicing guide sets out what a proper service covers. Funding may be available for some owners, so check our grants guide early.
Every heat pump installer in Wellington is on the Wellington page, where you can filter by the job you need.